Talk to your child about the internet.
Please note that the image was posted for illustration purposes only.
Cyber technology has transformed the human lifestyle. Parents need to make sure their children ‘use technology, not get used to it’.
Parents must mentor their children in cyber etiquette in the digital age.
Digital parenting is crucial in these times of Internet renaissance, where young minds are dependent upon tablets and smartphones to address their curiosity.
Digital media are crucial for socialization of all age groups, even in conservative Asian societies because of social distancing norms and pandemic.
According to 2020, 71% Indian Android Apps have access to your exact location — 62% can access your camera while 50% and 46% respectively can access your microphone and contacts.
The study found that 87% of Indian apps for children had at least one unsafe permission with apps containing inapp ads.
Parents may find it difficult to monitor their children’s online activity. Here are some tips to help you and your child browse safely.
1. Be an example
Children absorb what you do, whether it is screentime, sharing information or browsing sites.
It’s crucial that parents are role models. The rest of these tips are derived from this.
2. Conversation
Discuss online activities with your children.
Talk to your child about the things they’re reading, watching and how they communicate with others online.
Ask them about their favorite websites and apps. Make a list and then look at it together.
Talk with your child about what you consider appropriate.
3. Be a digitally informed parent
Digital technology is always changing.
It is vital to keep up with current trends and threats in order to make sure your child has an enjoyable experience.
You can keep your child safe by learning about the latest apps and games.
4. Always be visible for screens and devices
The Internet is a public square.
You would never allow your child to leave your sight in real life. They need your supervision when they’re online.
It is crucial to know what they are doing online in order to keep them safe.
5. Keep track of the amount of time you spend on the Internet
It is crucial to keep an eye on your child’s internet activity, especially if they are young.
Online sessions should not exceed 30 minutes in length and should not be more than four sessions per day.
6. Verify the online friends
As you would know the offline circle of friends that your children have, make sure you also know their online circle.
Unverified friends are a serious risk. To keep your child safe, help them find their friends.
7. Parental control
OTT platforms, apps for social media, games, and other devices all have parental controls.
After installing a new app, it is advisable to review its settings section for safety features.
Parental controls can be used to improve security for your child’s smartphone.
8. Help others
It is important to know why you are sharing information online and with whom.
This must be passed on to our children.
Information such as address, phone numbers and school addresses can be shared with friends or organizations.
These data should not be shared unless absolutely necessary.
9. You can control your family’s digital footprint
Each comment, like and share you make adds to your digital footprint.
It is important to teach our children that sharing information online adds to our online profile.
It’s possible that criminal organizations can misuse certain information that you have put together.
Take care of what you share online and with whom you share it.
10. Don’t share your location
Many apps, whether they are on our desktops or phones, monitor our location via their geo-tagging capabilities. This information is also stored in the videos and photos that you post.
It can usually be disabled by going to the settings section in the app control. Alternately, you can turn the location sharing feature off while you are using the app.
Be vigilant and attentive, regardless of whether you’re at home or away with your children.
Instead of secretly spying on them, you can involve them in the process to keep them safe from predators.
Discuss with them the potential risks associated with their data being posted online.
These simple things, along with an alert brain, will help ensure your children are safe browsing the internet.
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